Vending machine



April 1938. B. s. MAHAFFEY 2,115,393

VENDING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4 .5. .51 Ma/mffay%mp g 6 g l April 1938. B. s. MAHAFFEY 2,115,393

VENDING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1936 2 Sheets-*Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 26,1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to vending machines.

It has for its general object the provision of vending apparatus forarticles which deteriorate through the action of air, such, for example,as cigars, nut meats, etc.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide individual receptaclesfor each sales unit, in which the article is maintained in anon-oxidizing atmosphere until dispensed. Y

Another object of the invention is to maintain the article in individualchambers in a vacuum, to utilize the vacuum for assisting in holding thechambers closed in a fluid-tight manner, and for mechanically breakingthe vacuum through the intermediary of an inserted coin for opening thechamber and discharging its contents.

Since the operating structure is mechanically useful regardless of theadjunctive use of vacuum,

the invention has for another of its objects the 204 provision of avending machine having the novel structural characteristics andoperative sequences such as will be disclosed in the followingspecification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side section view of a vending machine, parts being brokenaway, illustrating the principle of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical section through one of the receptacles;

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the receptacles or holders in amodified form of the invention;

Figure 6 is a section taken along the line 6- 5 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section showing the relation of the supportingledge to the upper frame only of the lowermost vending unit.

Referring now in detail to the several figures and first adverting tothat form illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, the numeral Irepresents in general a cabinet having a relatively tall stack casing 2and a base portion 3, which is useful for holding the empty receptaclesas they are displaced from the stack in a manner presently to bedescribed.

Within the stack casing is a stack 4 constituted by a vertical tier ofreceptacles 5. One of these receptacles is shown on an enlarged scale inFigure 4 and consists of a body portion 6 defining a chamber I, thelower face of which is open, the receptacle being provided with a bottomclosure 8 preferably hinged as at 9 and fitting in a fluidtight manneragainst the lower face of the body portion 6. To facilitate the sealingfunction of the closure a gasket It may be placed between thecooperating faces of the body portion and closure. 5

The lowermost receptacle H is supported by ledges E2 on opposite sidesand slide like a drawer upon said ledges. The other receptacles rest oneupon another and upon the lowermost receptacle l I, the closure 8 ofwhich, excepting that of the lowermost receptacle being supported inclosed position by the receptacle next underlying. In the event that thereceptacles are evacuated, the pressure of the atmosphere also assistsin holding the closures tightly against the receptacles. It will beobserved from Figure 1 that there is nothing to hold the closure 8 ofthe lowermost receptacle closed and so it lies open in an inclinedposition determined by its engagement with the stop M which extendsinwardly from the front end of 20 the cabinet. All of the receptacles inthe stack will successively go to the position occupied by the lowermostreceptacle 5 I, the closures when in inclined positions acting as chutesfor discharging the contents of the receptacles which contents'issuethrough the slot I5 into a cup I6, from which they are gathered in thehand.

Coin controlled means is provided for pushing the lowermost or emptyreceptacle out of the way and bringing another receptacle from the stackinto a position in which its contents may be discharged. The coincontrolled apparatus illustrated here consists of a guide I? and a slideI8.- The slide as shown has a downwardly extending end piece l9 withinthe cabinet in a position to engage with and push the lowermostreceptacle I I. When a coin is inserted in the slot 20 and the slide ispushed inwardly, the coin presses against the bulge of the spring l9forcing it down and throwing the end 2! below the plane of the slide l8and out of engagement with the slide so that the latter can be freelypushed. When the slide is pushed in, to its fullest extent, thelowermost receptacle II takes the position shown in dotted lines at 22and then falls empty into the base of the cabinet. The other receptaclesof the stack are guided for vertical fall by means of vertical guiderails 23 which terminate about in the plane of the top face of thelowermost receptacle and being deprived of the support of the lowermostreceptacle, may descend together until the receptacle at the bottomoccupies the vacated space, resting upon the ledges I2. In the eventthat the chambers I are to be under vacuum, valve controlled ports 24are provided each closed by a valve 25 carried by a hinged valve plate26 which I closes the valve by gravity. The lower end 2I'of the valeplate, projects below the plane of the bottom of the receptacle in aposition to be encaged by the receptacle next below when the latter ishorizontally displaced so that'the displaced receptacle acts toopen thevalve of the receptacleimmediately above it and to release the vacuum.This leaves the closure 8 free to drop open by gravity just as soon asthe supporting receptacle has been pushed from beneath it. The means forevacuating the chambers I does not concern the invention. The vendingmachine. maybe serviced by removing empty receptacles. 'from the basereplacing and replenishing the stack with fresh filled receptaclesalready evac-e uated at a central station. For the purpose of drawing avacuum in the receptacles; they may be filled with the commodity to bevended, closed, and a number of them at one time placedwithin a suitablechamber from which'the' air may be drawn by any convenientand knowninstrumenr talitie's.

Referringnow to Figures 5 and 6, the receptacles are substituted byframes 28, each consisting of a, three sided member formed with upperand'lower halves 29 and 30 hingedly. joined as at '3l'an d comingtogether toform a'fiuid-tight joint 32; Both the top and bottom halvesHand 30 are formed in their contiguous faces with matching channels '33and 34,which together form a .closed conduit 35. Said'conduitcommunicates with, a port 36 controlled'by a valve- 31 on a hinged valveplate 38. similar in construction to the valve plate shown in connectionwith that form of the: invention'illustrated in Figure 4. The frontedgeof the frame is open as indicated at 39in Figure 5. Theframe zli hasside lugs 40' and-4i formed with indentations 42 and 43 em I bracingvertical guideswhich may be similar in all respects to the guide'rails23 shown in Figure 2. ,The frames are adapted each to. receive and) holda bag 'or package 44 of the article to be vended. The bag ll'ispreferably of some gas-tight material such for-example as 3cellophaneand it may :be formed by a piece of sheet material fold' ed along theedge 45 and having its three free edges pasted together,.butimperfectly. The three free e'dgesare held clamped between the top andbottom members of the frame and extending into theconduit 35. A vacuumis' drawn'on the, conduit 35 and due tothe imperfect sealing of thefreejedges of the bag the interior of the bag will ,be evacuated. Theoperation of this form of the invention is essentially'like that formfirst de--' scribed. The pushrod engages the lowermost frame" shoving itout fr'ombeneath the stack.

The stack of the frames then descends'by gr'avity until the next lowestframe occupiesthe vacated position. Asshown in Figure 7, the ledges 12extend under the lugs 41! and-4| supporting 'the vending unit by theupper frame only, leaving the lower framefree to drop. .In the course ofits horizontal travel, the lowermost frame conta'ct's the valve plate 38opening the valve 31 and releasing the vacuum. When the lowermost frameis entirely out of the way, the lower half oft'he' frame drops' againstthe stop M, the bag sliding-out along the lateral edges of the in-,clined. bottom member" and discharging at the outside of the apparatus.7

It'vwill be understood'tothose skilled in the art that the abovedescribed structures are merely'illustrative of a broad inventiveprinciple which can find its realization in any'hu ber of mech'anicalembodiments. it will therefore be understood that the detailsofconstruction as'shown and described are merely by way of example and notto be construed as limiting the scopeof the appended claims.

What I claim is: 1. Vending apparatus comprising a stack of receptaclesresting one upon the other, each having a closure at the bottom, whichclosure exceptceptacle from beneathsaid stack at the same timewithdrawing its support'from the bottom, 20 7 by the said next lowermostreceptacle drops :into,

closure of the next lowermost receptacle wherethe position vacated bythe lowermost receptacle,

discharging its contents through'the openingpun covered by. itsunsupported closure; a

2. Vending apparatus comprising astack of re ceptacles 'each having ahingfid closure'at the bottom, which closures exceptthat' of the lowermost receptacle being supported in closed position between adjacentunderlying receptacles, means supporting the lowermost receptacle withfreedom to be slidably displaced from beneath the others of the stack,said supporting means being in nonsupporting relationship to the bottomof the 10w ermost receptacle, operating means for displacing thelowermost receptacle from beneath said stack and simultaneouslywithdrawing its support fromv the bottom closure of the next lowestreceptacle,

permitting said next lowest receptacle tofdrop into the position vacatedby the lowermostre ceptacle,.discharging its contents throughWhe,opening uncovered by its unsupported closure.

3. Vending apparatus comprising a stack of receptacles each having ahinged'closure "atthe t a bottom which closures except that of thelowermos't receptacle are supported in closed positionv by theadjacentunderlying receptacle, means for supporting the" lowermost receptaclewith free- 7 others of the stack, said supporting means being innon-"supporting relationshipto the bottom of the lowermost" receptacle,operatingfmeans ffo'r displacing the lowermost receptacle from beneathsaid stack permitting the stack to fall until'the next lowest receptacleoccupies the position vacated by the lowermost receptacle, saidsupport-f ing means being in non supporting relationship to the closureof the lowermostreceptacle where;

' dom to be slightly displaced from beneath the by said closure swingsopen, astop for halting. i

said closure in an inclined open position con-Z stituting said closureachute along which the contents of said receptacle are discharged; '1

' 4. Vending apparatus comprising a stack of receptacles each havingahinged'closure a'tt'he bottom, and the bottom of each including theclosure except that of the lowermostbeing supportedinfclosed position bythe one" beneath supplemented by atmospheric pressure, means supporting.the lowermost receptacle with free v dom to'be displaced from beneathsaid stack, said l supporting means being in non-supportingrelationshipto' the bottom of the lowermost recep tacle, operating meansfordisplacing the lowermost jreceptacle from beneath said stackthuswithdrawing support from the bottom 'of the next 7 lowermost receptaclepermitting it to drop'finto the position vacated by the lowermostreceptacle, said operating means simultaneously effecting the withdrawalof: atmospheric pressure asanauxiliary support for the closureuofitheolowermost receptacle permitting it to open for the discharge of itscontents.

5. Vending. apparatus comprising a stack of receptacles each having ahinged closure at'the bottom and the bottom of each excepting thelowermost being supported in closed position by the one beneath, meanssupporting the lowermost receptacle with freedom to be displaced frombeneath said stack, said supporting means being in non-supportingrelationship to the bottom of the lowermost receptacle, said receptaclesbeing individually under vacuum, each receptacle having a portcommunicating therewith and a valve for said port for retention of thevacuum within said receptacle, and operating means for displacing thelowermost receptacle from beneath said stack, thus withdrawing thesupport from the bottom of the next lowermost receptacle permitting itto drop into the position vacated by the next lowermost receptacle, saidoperating means simultaneously efiecting the opening of the valve of thelowermost receptacle releasing the vacuum and permitting the bottomclosure to open for discharging the contents of said receptacle.

6. Vending apparatus comprising a stack of receptacles each having anopenable closure at the bottom, and the bottom of each except thelowermost being supported in closed position by the one beneath, meansfor supporting the lowermost receptacle with freedom to be displacedfrom beneath said stack, said supporting means being in non-supportingrelationship to the bottom closure of the lowermost receptacle, a valvecontrolled port communicating with the interior of each receptacle, aplate for each valve extending below the plane of the bottom of thereceptacle with which it is associated, and operating means fordisplacing the lowermost receptacle from beneath said stack thuswithdrawing the support from the bottom of the next lowermostreceptacle, permitting it to drop into the position vacated by thelowermost receptacle, the lowermost receptacle when displaced contactingthe valve plate of the adjacent upper receptacle opening the valve anddischarging the vacuum permitting the closure to open when the said nextto lowest receptacle becomes the lowest receptacle.

7. Vending apparatus comprising a stack of receptacles, the receptaclesbeing freely descendible to the position normally occupied by thelowermost receptacle, each receptacle of the stack having an openablebottom and the bottom of each excepting the lowermost being supported inclosed position by the adjacent underlying receptacle, means supportingthe lowermost receptacle with freedom to be displaced from beneath saidstack, said means supporting the lowermost receptacle in such positionas to permit the bottom to open, and operating means for displacing thelowermost receptacle from beneath said stack permitting the nextlowermost receptacle to drop into the position vacated by the lowermostreceptacle, in which position its bottom being unsupported opens, a stoparresting the opening movement of the bottom to hold it in inclinedposition, said bottom then functioning as a chute in discharging thecontents of the receptacle.

8. Vending apparatus comprising a stack of receptacles, each having anopenable closure at the bottom, and the bottom of each except thelowermost being supported in closed position by the one beneath, meansfor supporting the lowermost receptacle with freedom tobe displaced frombeneath said stack, said supporting means being in non-supportingrelationship to the bottom closure of the lowemost receptacle, avalve-controlled port communicating with the interior of eachreceptacle, a plate for each valve extending below the plane of thebottom of the receptacle with which it is associated, and operatingmeans for displacing the lowermost receptacle from beneath said stackthus withdrawing support from the bottom of the next lowermostreceptacle, permitting the stack to drop with the said next lowermostreceptacle into the position vacated by the lowermost receptacle, thenow lowermost receptacle when displaced contacting the valve plate ofthe adjacent superposed receptacle, opening the valve and dischargingthe vacuum permitting the closure to open, a stop arresting the openingmovement of the bottom closure to hold it in an inclined position, saidbottom closure then functioning as a chute in discharging the contentsof the receptacle.

9. Vending machine comprising a stack of individual vending members,each comprising hinged parts, each part being a frame open at one sidewith the sides of said frames having matching engaging surfaces, adaptedto clampably receive and hold between them certain edges of a bag ofimpervious material, a support for said stack engaging the lowermostmember of said stack, said support and said members being so relatedthat said support engages the upper frame only leaving the lower frameof the lowermost member free to open, means for displacing the lowermostmember from beneath said stack thus withdrawing support from the nextlowermost member, permitting it to drop into the position vacated by thelowermost member, thus withdrawing the support from the lower frame ofthe now lowermost member permitting it to swing open for dischargingsaid bag.

10. Vending machine comprising a stack of individual vending members,each comprising hinged parts, each part being a frame open at one side,with the sides of said frame having matching engaging surfaces, saidsurfaces being provided with matching channels adapted to be evacuated,a port communicating with said channels and a valve controlling saidport adapted to be opened upon occasion for releasing the vacuum, a bagof impervious material having certain imperfectly sealed edges clampablyheld between the matching faces of said frame and in communication withsaid channels, a support for said stack engaging the lowermost member ofsaid stack, said support and members being so related that said supportengages the upper frame only of said members when they becomesuccessively the lowermost member of the stack, a plate for each memberupon which said valve is mounted, said plate extending below the planeof the bottom of the member with which it is associated, and operatingmeans for displacing the lowermost member from beneath said stack thuswithdrawing the support from the next lowermost member permitting it todrop into the position vacated by the lowermost member, the lowermostmember when displaced contacting the valve plate of the adjacentsuperposed member opening the valve and discharging the vacuum,permitting the lower frame to open to discharge the contents of thevending member.

11. Vending machine as claimed. in claim 10, including a stop arrestingthe opening movement of the lower frame of the lowermost member to uvending mem'bers each having an openwbie pan;

7 normally held closed bvvacuum'and which opens when the vacuum isrelieved permitting the discharge of the said product, each of saidvending members having a vacuum relieving element engaged by the vendingmember immediately below it when. the-latter is displaced, for relievingthe v vacuum in. the vending member whose said ele; men: is'dzhus.engaged, and means for displacing V the iowermostyendi ng element frombeneath said stack whereby the next lowest member becomes the lowest,its vacuum is 're1ieved,fr1=ts openaible part opened, and the productpermitted to' discharge r BENJAMIN s. MAHAYFFEY. V m

